Policy
This last week, 16th of February, I had the fabulous experience of working with a new project that was given to me and another intern from Sul Ross, by our principal. This project was to work with the credit appeal applicants. The E. P. I. S. D. policy indicates that students must be in attendance 90% of the class time to be eligible for credit. We had to identify the population at our campus that was in jeopardy of losing some of the fall semester grades, due to excessive absences. These students that did not comply with the policy must appeal for their credit. We informed the students that were identified that it was critical to meet with us. After meeting with us, and explaining to them of what was happening, we went through the attendance policy with them. We also covered the attendance court process, the required phone calls to the attendance office, and the consequences for not complying. After that, students interested in appealing were to leave their completed form with us. After evaluating their appeal the following week, the students will be informed in a memo. This memo will indicate if they will be granted their credits, denied their credits, or if additional documentation is needed to re-consider their appeal.
The goal of this project is to grant the majority of the students their credits based on our administration. But, of course, careful evaluation must take place across the board in order to be fair to all of the applicants. Looking briefly across the applicants appeal forms, the majority, have acceptable reasons. Some of the students had surgery, some had mono, and others had deaths in the family, which required them to travel across the nation. There were only a few applicants that had terrible excuses. For example, we read one that had indicated they actually ditched with their friends. Another one had no recollection, as to why he had been absent and they left the form blank. Then again, there were two students that had 30 or more days of absences. And the majority of their absences were unexcused. How can we approve those appeals? I mean, would I be fair to the other students that made an effort of getting to class every day, even when they are ill or when they have other emergencies. I know that we have to look at each of those appeals on an individual basis and consider each one very carefully. We have to consider their grade level, their age, At-Risk interventions and every other factor that may come into play that may be holding each individual from attending school on a regular basis.